Removable tilting bin system

ABSTRACT

A bin construction includes a series of vertical, pivotally mounted bins in a frame which include projecting mounting pans from each side of the bin that snap fit into slots of a frame. The bins are interconnected by means of an auxiliary bar which includes detent slots that engage and receive auxiliary pins associated with the sides of the bins to permit simultaneous opening and closing of the bins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a storagebin construction and, more particularly, to a construction comprised oftwo or more storage bins which may be easily inserted into a frameassembly or cabinet so that the bins may be tilted either singly or inunison to reveal the contents of the bins.

[0002] Craftsmen, hobbyists, mechanics and others typically use astorage chest or storage cabinet to store tools, component parts andother items. Most storage chests include a number of drawers, bins andother storage areas or receptacles in which to place such items.Desirable characteristics of such storage containers include thecapability to be easily opened, to be easily replaced and accessible. Afurther feature often desired in containers or storage chests is afeature which will enable opening and closing a series of bins ordrawers simultaneously. Yet another feature for inclusion in chests orstorage cabinets is a design for bins which enable the utilization ofstorage bins having different sizes and shapes. These features amongothers have led to the development of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Briefly the present invention comprises one or more moldedplastic bins which are tiltably mounted in a cabinet frame or housing.Each bin includes lateral sides and a front side as well as a bottomside, back side and an open top. Projecting from each of the lateralsides are pivot mounting pins. The laterally projecting mounting pinsfit into pockets defined in opposed sides of the cabinet frame orhousing. The pockets are defined by generally semi-cylindrical slots forreceipt of the axial mounting pins of the bins. The bins may then beslipped into or out of the housing by engagement of the axial pins withthe semi-cylindrical pockets. The pins include radial or tangentialprojecting flanges which limit the degree of rotation of the pin in theassociated pocket and thus limit the tilt or rotation of the bin mountedin the cabinet frame or housing.

[0004] Also, one or more auxiliary pins is incorporated with each binprojecting from the lateral sides of the bin. Each of the auxiliary pinsengage with a slot in a vertically movable, sliding bar and, moreparticularly, with a detent slot in the bar. The bar is slidably mountedin the housing so that bins mounted vertically above each other in thehousing will move in unison. That is, rotation of one bin will cause anauxiliary pin associated with that bin to engage and translate the barthereby effect movement of all of the bins having auxiliary pinsengaging the vertical, slidable bar.

[0005] Each of the bins may be removed from the housing by disengagingthe pins, both auxiliary and mounting pins, from their respectivepockets or slots. This is accomplished by withdrawing the bins from thecabinet frame or housing by movement radially from the mounting slots orpockets. Thus by appropriately aligning the pins in the slots it ispossible to remove one or more bins by pulling them from the housingand, more particularly, from engagement with the slots. With thedescribed construction it is also possible to eliminate the verticallyslidable bar and thereby permit each of the bins to pivot independently.Thus with the described bin and cabinet frame construction, the bins maybe interconnected to move simultaneously between an open tilt positionand a closed position or move individually. Typically the bins are openon their top side. In a preferred embodiment the bins may be molded froma polypropylene plastic material.

[0006] Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedremovable storage bin drawer construction.

[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide a removablestorage bin drawer construction comprised of multiple bins or drawerswherein pivotal movement or rotation of one bin or drawer between theopen and closed positions will effect a similar movement of adjacentdrawers.

[0008] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a removablestorage bin or drawer construction comprised the bins accessible fromthe top and which are pivotal to move the top access opening from astorage position to a position of open access by virtue of tilting ofthe bin about a pivot axis through the lateral, opposite sides of thebin.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a removable storagebin drawer construction which enables easy removal of separate storagebins retained within a housing for the bins without significantdisassembly of the housing.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive,durable, rugged, and easily assembled combination of storage bin drawersmounted in a single housing wherein the bins may be individually pivotedto reveal the contents thereof or pivoted as a group to reveal thecontents of each and every bin without interference of access toadjacent bins.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a bin or drawerconstruction comprised of bins mounted one above the other in a housingwherein the bins are pivotal in the housing to reveal the contentsthereof.

[0012] These and another objects, advantages and features of theinvention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] In the detailed description which follows, reference will be madeto the drawing comprised of the following figures:

[0014]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a four bin drawer construction madein accord with the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a housing for the drawer binconstruction of the invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a typical bin utilized incombination with the housing of FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a back side view of the bin of FIG. 3;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the vertically movable bar memberutilized in combination with the bin of FIG. 3 and the housing of FIG. 2to facilitate simultaneous movement of a series of bins depicted in FIG.1; and

[0019]FIG. 6 is a side section view of the construction of a bin asutilized in combination with a housing and a vertical bar member in theassembly of the drawer construction of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020]FIG. 1 depicts the bin or drawer construction of the invention inan assembled condition. The bin or drawer construction may beincorporated in a larger storage container such as a locker, cabinet orchest. The bin construction includes an outer housing and a series offour separate bin containers 12, 14, 16 and 18. Though there are fourbin containers 12, 14, 16, and 18 depicted in the embodiment, any numberof bins may be utilized in the practice of the invention. In a preferredembodiment at least two bins are utilized inasmuch as the bins include amechanism for their simultaneous rotational or pivotal movement.However, the invention is not limited to the utilization of two bins ormore. Rather, a single bin may incorporate the invention in combinationwith a housing or frame.

[0021] Each of the bins 12, 14, 16, 18 has a substantially identicalconstruction. Each one of the bins 12, 14, 16, 18 may be slidablyinserted into the housing 10 and will pivot between an open position asdepicted in FIG. 1 and a closed position as depicted in FIG. 6. The bins12, 14, 16, and 18 as well as the housing 10 are preferrablymanufactured from a molded plastic material such as polypropylene. Inthe further description which follows, discussion of the construction ofa single bin 12 will be set forth, but such discussion is applicable tothe remaining bins 14, 16 and 18.

[0022] When assembling the bin construction, the bin 12 is inserted intothe housing 10 with the bin 12 in the open or forward pivotal positionas depicted in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 as well as FIG. 6, thebin 12 includes a front panel 20, a first lateral side panel 22, asecond lateral side panel 24, a back panel 26 and a bottom panel 28. Theback side panel 26 and the bottom side panel 28 are connected togetherby a radius wall 30. The front side panel 20 is preferably planar andincludes along its top edge a molded handle 32. The particularconfiguration, shape and size of the molded handle 32 may be varied inaccord with desires of the maker of the bin.

[0023] The lateral sides 22 and 24 of the bin 12 include axially,outwardly projecting pins such as pin 34 and pin 36 in FIGS. 3 and 4.The pins 34 and 36 are axially aligned and define a pivot axis 38 forthe bin 12. In a preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 4, the axialpin 36 is a generally cylindrical, molded member. It may include a flatsurface 40 along its back side. It further includes a tangential orradial projecting flange 42 as more clearly shown in FIG. 6. Axial pins34 and 36 have a substantially identical construction and extendoutwardly, in opposite directions from the respective lateral side walls22 and 24 along axis 38.

[0024] Each of the lateral side walls 22 and 24 or at least one of thelateral sides 22 and 24 includes an auxiliary pin 50 projectinggenerally parallel to and at outwardly from the lateral side 22 parallelto the pin 36 and defining an axis 52 which is generally parallel to theaxis 38. In the preferred embodiment only one auxiliary pin 50 isrequired. However such auxiliary pins may be provided with respect toeach of the lateral walls 22 and 24.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2 there is depicted the housing or frame 10.The housing 10 includes spaced vertical side rails 60 and 62 connectedtogether and spaced by crossmembers 64 and 66 to define a rectangularframe into which the bins 12, 14, 16 and 18 are inserted. The inside ofeach side rail 60, 62 includes a pocket 68, 70 respectfully. The pockets68, 70 for the sides 60 and 62 are axially aligned along axis 72. Whenthe bin 12 is inserted into the frame 10, axis 72 is aligned with theaxis 38 of the bin 12. The pin projections 34 and 36 fit into the slotsdefined by the generally semi-cylindrical projections 68 and 70 in theframe members 60 and 62 respectively. The manner in which the componentparts slide together is depicted in FIG. 6 which is a side section viewof a bin 12 as inserted into a frame 10.

[0026] In the embodiment depicted, the frame 10 includes four sets ofsemi-cylindrical pocket members 68 and 70 which are opposed and aligned,each set adapted to receive pivot pins of a separate bin 12, 14, 16 and18. As depicted in FIG. 6, the pin 36 slides into the pocket 68 and theflange 42 will serve to limit the rotational movement of the pin 36 inthe pocket 68. Thus as the bin 12 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as depicted in FIG. 6 the bin 12 will move to a fully closedposition which is limited in movement by engagement of the flange 42with top edge 80 of the slot projection 68. Rotation of the bin 12 inthe clockwise sense is also limited by virtue of the engagement of theflat side of the flange 42 with the projection 82 of the pocket or slot68. The bin 12 may be moved to the clockwise open position and removedfrom the frame merely by pulling outwardly. Thus with the constructionas described, the amount of rotational movement of the bin 12 iscontrolled within the frame 10.

[0027] As another feature of the invention, a vertically movable barmember 90 as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be inserted in the frame 10for movement vertically in response to interaction between the auxiliarypins 50 and detent slots 92 defined in planar projections 94 of the barmember 90. Thus, bar member 90 includes end flanges 96 and 98 which mayengage in slots defined in the frame 10 and, more particularly, in slot100 of the bottom frame member 66 and in slot 102 of the top framemember 64. The auxiliary pins 50 of each of the bins 12, 14, 16 and 18engage with the slots 92 of the vertically movable auxiliary bar member90. As a result upon rotation of one of the bins 12, all of the bins 14,16, 18 will be rotated to the open or closed position in unison. Thusthe vertically movable bar member 90 provides for simultaneous movementand interaction of the bins 12, 14, 16 and 18. The use of the verticallymovable bar member 50 is optional. Note also that the slot 92 does notinterfere with the removal and replacement of the bins such as bin 12.That is as depicted by the arrow 110 in FIG. 6, the bin 12 may be easilymoved in the direction of the arrow into or out of engagement with theframe 10. In practice one auxiliary bar member 90 or two auxiliary barmembers associated with each lateral side of the bins may be used.

[0028] Various other optional features may be incorporated including thesize and extent of the various lateral pins and the size and shape andextent of the slots 68, 70 associated with the frame 10. The shape ofthe handle 32 and of the shape of the front panel 20 may be varied. Thenumber of bins and associated pins and lockbar notches may also bevaried. The auxiliary pin 50 maybe incorporated in a side or a backpanel for cooperation with a bar member 90. Thus the invention is to belimited by the claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A removable storage bin construction comprising,in combination: a. a bin including a front panel, a back panel, firstand second lateral side panels projecting at right angles from the frontpanel; b. first and second pivot mounting pins projecting respectivelylaterally outwardly from the first and second lateral side panels, alonga bin pivot axis at least one of said pins including a radial tabextending from the pin; c. a bin enclosure housing for receipt of thebin, said enclosure including first and second housing sides spacedapart to receive the bin lateral sides in opposed relation thereto, thefirst and second bin housing sides including a pivot mounting pin pocketfor receipt respectively of the first and second mounting pins, said pinpockets defining a partial cylindrical pocket with a pocket slot forsliding engagement of the pins into the pockets, at least one of saidpockets including a flange to engage the pivot pin radial tab to limitrotation of the pin in the pocket and thereby limit rotation of the binin the bin housing.
 2. The construction of claim 1 further including anauxiliary outwardly projecting pin on a panel of the bin; and saidhousing including a vertically movable bar member with a detent slot forengagement and vertical movement by the auxiliary pin in response topivoting of the bin about the axis.
 3. The construction of claim 2wherein the pocket slot and detent slot are aligned to permit removal ofthe bin from the enclosure.
 4. The construction of claim 2 wherein theconstruction includes at least two bins mounted in the enclosurevertically one above the other and wherein each bin includes anauxiliary pin and the bin enclosure includes a single vertical barmember cooperative with each auxiliary pin whereby pivoting of one ofthe bins to the open position effects pivoting of the other binsimultaneously.
 5. The construction of claim 2 wherein said auxiliarypin is projecting from a lateral side panel.